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University Housing Survey - April 2011

The survey was conducted during week commencing 4th April in several streets in some areas of the historic older part of the town where there is the main concentration of university student accommodation.

420 leaflets were posted through letter boxes door to door. There was no personal contact with residents. They were collected from respondents letter boxes the same evening, again without personal contact.

The result was:

120 supported the introduction of Article 4 direction and said that they thought Cornwall Council were wrong to oppose it.

11 thought Cornwall Council were right and that Article 4 was not needed.

3 thought the questionnaire was not clear.

3 did not support the introduction of article 4 but did not agree with Cornwall Council either.

Total of responses - 137

Some respondents wrote comments on the paper. These were:

'This type of legislation should have been about when the Tremough development began'.

'It would be nice to have our town back. I feel we have been overrun with students'.

One who voted 'yes' wrote - 'It may result in a form of 'easy revenue' forcing property owners to pay up for their properties to be considered 'suitable' and result in abuse of bureaucracy'.

'Most certainly. Out of 10 homes opposite us only 2 families exist now'.

'We are one of the very few bringing up a family here'.

(by phone) 'My problem is not with the students, but with the landlords because of the way they allow their properties to deteriorate'.

Oliver Cramp said 'The very large response to this survey demonstrates the very strong feeling in the town about the way the present situation has been allowed to expand out of control. It also shows that Cornwall Council are completely out of touch with opinion in Falmouth. They are also out of line with most other communities who have universities'.

Two people, having missed the pick-up time, took the trouble to bring their leaflets right across the town and deliver them to my door.

One came out of his house whilst I was delivering to ask for a second leaflet for his upstairs neighbour.

No less than three phoned me later to offer their support.

My conclusion is that most people think that the present 'free for all' situation is not in the interest of either the residents or the students and should not be allowed to continue. They think that regulation and control by the Council is essential and urgently needed.

Oliver Cramp
Falmouth Town Councillor
11/04/2011